Life in the Light of the Gospel - Phil 3:12 - 4:1

12Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you. 16Only let us hold true to what we have attained. 17Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. 18For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19 Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. 20But our citizenship is in heaven, and from it we await a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21who will transform our lowly body to be like his glorious body, by the power that enables him even to subject all things to himself.

We wrapped up our Philippians study this week by talking about the great freedom that the Gospel brings to our lives. here's what we saw...
Living in the Light of the Gospel means:
1) We Live BECAUSE we are His.
We cannot earn the right to be a child of God - We cannot work hard enough or good enough to maintain a place in his presence. We don't live IN ORDER TO BE His.
This Frees us from a life of fear - fear that our works are not enough.
Instead - we live BECAUSE WE ARE His
2) We live life FORWARD.
We forget what lies behind - namely our sins.
Like Paul we a) Understand that forgiveness is NOT based on works (Romans 4), b) Understand that forgiveness is forever (Psalm 103), c) Understand that We are Robed in Righteousness (Philippians 3:9)
Rather than being frozen by the guilt of our past - the Gospel frees us to live life foreward - to press on to the prize that is set before us - Jesus!
3) We Live as Sojourners.
Our citizenship has changed. We are not citizens in this world - this country - this city - our citizenship is heaven. Ours is a different kingdom and we serve a greater king - Jesus.
This frees us from worldly pursuits - power, possessions, people... We are free to live as foreigners in a land that isn't our own!

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

TECHNICAL PROBLEMS...
It appears that this weeks message may NOT have been recorded. If you weren't there, you just missed it!

The Heart of the Gospel Philippians 3:1-11

What a great passage! In the context of Paul's battle with the Judaizers who added the Law to Jesus, Paul takes us deep into the very heart of the Gospel!
To the religious Judaizer Paul says - I have more reason than any of you to have confidence in the flesh! By YOUR standards, I am far better than you. Yet, none of these matters of the flesh matter - they cannot satisfy God's righteous requirements. Be the best that you can be - do all the good that you can do - and it isn't enough. As bad as that sounds, the good news is that Jesus has accomplished for you what you cannot! So, Paul says, in the light of Jesus and the righteousness that is mine - IN HIM by faith - I count all my works as dung! The Gospel is about what He has done for us.
We looked as well at all that Paul had and had accomplished in a worldly sense. He had a great family and the right blood line. He was from the right tribe. And he was a Pharisee - which came with a great deal of power and authority and privilege. Paul had accomplished much of what we pursue in our jobs, in our relationships - with our lives. And in the light of the glory and beauty of Jesus all those things looked and smelled like dung! Paul found Jesus to be his joy and satisfaction - all that he needed for life and forever more! That too is the heart of the Gospel!

Not only will our fleshly works not satisfy God, our fleshly works won't satisfy us either! The good news is that Jesus satisfies both!

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Philippians 3:1-3 Beware of the Religious Dogs

1Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is no trouble to me and is safe for you. 2Look out for the dogs, look out for the evildoers, look out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3For we are the circumcision, who worship by the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh— Philippians 3:1-3

This week's passage serves as a great warning for us: a warning to fight the tendency we all have toward religious rules and away from the true Gospel, and it is a warning to stay away from those who teach a false gospel.

Paul (or God, through Paul) calls those who would add the Law to Jesus - Dogs, Evildoers (workers of evil), and mutilators. He contrasts those who teach "works of the Law" with the "true circumcision," true followers of Christ. He says that we (the true circumcision) worship by the Spirit (not by works of the Law or the Flesh) , Glory in Christ Jesus (not in works of the Law or the Flesh), and put NO confidence in the flesh (because we know that it is Christ who has worked for us, is at work in us, and works through us).

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

The sermon is up for streaming or download - HERE.

Philippians 2:5-11 Joy in Communion

Our verses today came in the context of Paul's call for living out the fruit of the Gospel in the community of believers (2:1-18). Paul uses Jesus as our example for such living.
Paul reminded the Philippians and reminds us of the humility of Jesus - who set aside the fullness of his glory and equality with God to take on the flesh of His creation. He lived a life of humility and suffering and calls His followers to the same life. Communion reminds us that we are to participate in such a life of humility, sacrifice, and even death.
Paul also spoke of how Jesus has been exalted and given a name above all names. At His name every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that He is Lord. As Jesus has defeated death we have a great hope for our future - a future that includes our own resurrection and forevermore with Him - creation redeemed.
Communion is a way in which we are reminded of the Life of Jesus and reminded of our future hope. While Communion does NOT save us and is NOT REQUIRED for our salvation, it is a means through which we commune spiritually with Jesus and participate with Him is His life, death, and resurrection.

Here are a few questions to help you think through your response to this passage:
1. What did you hear God saying through this passage?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Philippians 1:19-26 Gospel Joy in Suffering & Death

Tough week of sermon prep getting ready for this passage - the reality of death. I shared a few of my own experiences with families and individuals dealing with death. I talked about 2 individuals who were facing death:

Lisa - a twenty-something that I met in a hospital ICU room. Lisa was involved in a terrible car accident and doctors weren't sure of whether she would make it or not. Her eyes were filled with terror when I met her. Lisa knew that she might not make it and she was horrified.

Linda - had been fighting cancer for a year. She knew that her type of lung cancer was almost always deadly. In the face of death - through weakness, baldness, and sickness - Linda was always positive, always encouraging others, always serving, and praising Jesus. Linda was my living example of Paul's words - to live is Christ and to die is gain.

The difference in these 2 women facing the reality of death was the Gospel of Jesus Christ! Lisa knew that she was about to die separated from God - a sinner. Linda knew that if she lived on she would do so serving and magnifying Jesus. But Linda was also ready to die, knowing that to do so would put her in the presence of Jesus - he great God and Savior. The Gospel and the theology of the Gospel (including heaven and hell) gave Linda great hope every day she lived and hope for forevermore!

So here are a few questions -

1. What did you hear God saying through the message?
2. What does that mean?
3. What is God calling you to do? and/or Who is God calling you to be?
4. What would prevent you from doing or being that?
5. How can we help?

Today's message should be available on the media page of http://www.newcitydowntown.org/ Monday or Tuesday.

Gospel Transformation (1:3-11)

Philippians 1:3-11

Today's message was a continuation to Paul's intro to his letter. We saw an incredible statement of confidence from Paul in verse 6: 6And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

The confidence of this statement is anchored in God Himself. It is God who started this Gospel Transformation Process - God who continues it - and God who will finish it!

* How did the confidence of Paul's statement impact you?

* We also talked about 3 terms related to the process, do you remember what they mean?

- Regeneration - Who regenerates sinners?

- Sanctification - Who sanctifies believers?

- Glorification - Who glorifies us in the day of Christ?

While the confident statement that God is at work in His children and will be faithful to complete that work brings assurance and encouragement, we were also challenged by some things.

Paul SAW Gospel Transformation at work in the Philippians - I listed 3 ways, do you remember any of them?

We were also challenged with the questions -

If Paul knew of NCCd, would he make such a confident assertion about us?

If he knew your family, would he make such a statement?

If he knew you, as an individual, could he say with confidence that God was at work and would finish His work?

Finally we saw that what took place in the Philippians and does in true believers is a radical transformation! We are not driven by religion or rules to "DO" all the right things -

What is it that drives us? Empowers us? Enables us?

How is this different than religion?

How did God speak to you through His word today?

If you missed this weeks sermon, it should be available on the "media" page of NCCd within by Monday or Tuesday.

Philippans 1:1-2

I'm posting early this week - Saturday afternoon - in case anyone visits before Sunday!
So, here's how it works...
I have some questions from the main ideas of Sunday's sermon to stimulate thought and open discussion. So think about the questions - answer any that you want to, ask whatever you want to, and share what you will! Remember, your questions and thoughts will encourage others! Let's go! Post in the "comments" at the bottom of this post.

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Sunday's sermon focused on one main phrase: to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi. Paul calls the Philippian believers saints.


* We talked about the historical setting of this letter, particularly about WHO the letter was written to. What do we know about the Philippians, particularly as it relates to their "sainthood?"


* When it comes to being a saint, what does "Religion" require of a person? (Here's a hint: we talked about the Catholic Church's requirements and about "the list.")


* What does the Gospel require of a person?


* We heard several other passages from the apostle Paul about the benefits of being in Christ. Can you list some of those benefits? (here's a couple to get you going: eternal life, justification)


* It was said that Religion leads to one of two things, Pride (because you keep your "list" better than others) or Despair (because you cannot keep the "list" though you try).

> Have you found this to be true in your own life?



* How is the Gospel different, what should the Gospel lead to?


* How did God speak to you this week?

Gospel Joy

This Sunday kicks off a new sermon series through the book of Philippians entitled Gospel Joy. We’ll look at this great letter from the apostle Paul verse by verse in the coming weeks.

Philippians is a letter written during a Roman imprisonment. Paul was chained to a guard 24 hours a day. He was facing a very uncertain future, with death as a great possibility. Yet this letter has the unmistakable feel of joy.

With so much to be sorrowful, hurt, or angry about, what was it that brought Paul such joy? What gave him such hope in the midst of despair? The answer lies in the Gospel.